Citation : Singh AR (2024). Ghalib’s Epitaph to Self. In :Ghalib, Psychology and Human Behaviour - 2 A.R Singh and S.A Singh Eds), Mens Sana Monogr; 22:1. pg 60-61
ہوئی مدت کہ غالبؔ مر گیا پر یاد آتا ہے
وہ ہر اک بات پر کہنا کہ یوں ہوتا تو کیا ہوتا
हुई मुद्दत कि ‘ग़ालिब’ मर गया पर याद आता है
वो हर इक बात पर कहना कि यूँ होता तो क्या होता
hu.ii muddat ki ‘Ghaalib’ mar gayaa par yaad aataa hai
vo har ik baat par kahnaa ki yuu.n hotaa to kyaa hotaa
(DG 13,1206)
Meaning
It’s been some time since Ghalib died, but we remember him still.
And his opinion on everything, as to what would happen if such and such were to be the case.
Explanation/Comment:
Ghalib is writing an epitaph to himself in this ‘sher’
He talks of how he’d like to be renembered long after he was no more as a person who held his views on almost everything that mattered, and voiced it emphatically.
This comprehensivity of approach is obvious from even a cursory reading of his Deewan-e-Ghalib.
Even the ‘shers’ presented here make this amply clear.
The breadth and expanse of his reach is simply awe-inspiring. The topicality of his ‘shers’ is equally so.
How prophetic is this epitaph to self.
And it’s said he died almost two centuries ago!
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Citation : Singh AR (2024). Ghalib’s Epitaph to Self. In :Ghalib, Psychology and Human Behaviour - 2 A.R Singh and S.A Singh Eds), Mens Sana Monogr; 22:1. pg 60-61
ہوئی مدت کہ غالبؔ مر گیا پر یاد آتا ہے
وہ ہر اک بات پر کہنا کہ یوں ہوتا تو کیا ہوتا
हुई मुद्दत कि ‘ग़ालिब’ मर गया पर याद आता है
वो हर इक बात पर कहना कि यूँ होता तो क्या होता
hu.ii muddat ki ‘Ghaalib’ mar gayaa par yaad aataa hai
vo har ik baat par kahnaa ki yuu.n hotaa to kyaa hotaa
(DG 13,1206)
Meaning
It’s been some time since Ghalib died, but we remember him still.
And his opinion on everything, as to what would happen if such and such were to be the case.
Explanation/Comment:
Ghalib is writing an epitaph to himself in this ‘sher’
He talks of how he’d like to be renembered long after he was no more as a person who held his views on almost everything that mattered, and voiced it emphatically.
This comprehensivity of approach is obvious from even a cursory reading of his Deewan-e-Ghalib.
Even the ‘shers’ presented here make this amply clear.
The breadth and expanse of his reach is simply awe-inspiring. The topicality of his ‘shers’ is equally so.
How prophetic is this epitaph to self.
And it’s said he died almost two centuries ago!